Something Special

I must admit, this is not for everyone, but I had the opportunity to test out a great product that will have your groom thinking you can do no wrong, especially in the bathroom. Yes, I said the bathroom.

Now here is my disclaimer. I did not test out this product myself, per say, but I did attend an out-of-town wedding several weeks ago, and I shared a suite with four other women for three days. Needless to say, you eat out a lot, you share a bathroom...okay....I'm stalling. Basically, this product kept the bathroom smelling lemony fresh all weekend. All you need is a couple of spritzes on the water and no one is the wiser. It's called (drumroll please) Poo-Pourri!

I know the name is a little off putting, but trust me, DIYnista would not steer you wrong. The bathroom never smelled like harsh deodorizer or really strong perfume. It smelled fresh. I know this isn't the typical DIY tip, but from one newlywed, to one soon-to-be newlywed, this is a nice trick to have up your sleeve to remind him of how perfect you are! I hide mine in my top drawer. :)

Posted by DIYnista at 12:06 p.m.

Whimsical Garden Centerpieces

Few things are as beautiful and economical as an outdoor garden party. Just place some tablecloths on picnic or fold-up tables, hang a couple of paper lanterns or white streamers from the trees, and create these beautiful garden centerpieces to mimic the outdoors:

Sounds easy enough, right? Don't worry, it is!

Materials:
Glass vase
Fountain stones
Silk flower buds
Silk flower pre-made bouquet

Directions:

Step 1: Use a glass vase similar to this one found for $3.99 and fill the vase a quarter of the way with fountain stones. I found the vase and stones at save-on-crafts.com.

Step 2: Layer the silk flower buds (think of making lasagna).

Step 3: Place tulle in your party colors on top of the flower buds.

Step 4: Create another layer of fountain stones.

Step 5: Use individual flowers from your bouquet (without the stems) to place in the four corners of your glass vase. Arrange the flowers any way you like. Then add the flowers with the stems to add height to the centerpiece.

Posted by DIYnista at 1:54 p.m.

Now That's "Charmin"

Wow! Talk about Do-It-Yourself...

Have you heard about the wedding dress design contest that was held in NYC a few weeks ago? It was sponsored by Cheap-Chic-Weddings, Charmin and Ripley's Believe It Or Not. The contestants were only allowed to use toilet paper, tape, paper and glue-yes, I said toilet paper! And the results were amazing! The winning designer was Katrina Chalifoux, who won $1,000 for her creation. In addition, her dress will be on display in various Ripley's Believe It Or Not locations across the country along with the 2nd and 3rd winning designs.

Take a look, here!

Posted by Desiree at 3:41 p.m.

Bridesmaid Bonding Project

Do you long for the days of the Bedazzler? Maybe that's just me, but I really enjoyed creating special accents on my outfits growing up. Now that I'm almost 30, I'm nowhere near as creative with every outfit. That's what accessories are for!

In college I did make my own jean skirts (even made some for a few friends), which brings me to my idea for today. Here's a project for brides who want to tap into their domestic side and create a nice little bonding experience with their bridesmaids. You, too, can make your own jean skirt just like this one:

Let's get started:

1. Choose a pair of jeans in your favorite wash. (Don't use skinny jeans.)

2. Measure the length of where you want the skirt to end. Use a marker to add a linean inch below yourending point.

3. Fold the jeans in half so the legs are on top of each other. Cut straight across both pant legs where you made your mark.

4. Use a seam ripper to open the inside seams on the jeans.

5. Your jeans should actually look like a skirt at this point with a large split in the middle.

6. Using the excess fabric, cut two triangles at the side seams. Make sure to measure the width of the triangle so it fits into the opening in middle of your skirt.

7. Sew both triangles into the front and back of your skirt respectively. Cut off any excess fabric.

Now your bridesmaids can add their own special touches-studs, beads, they can even use iron-on letters to write their names.

Posted by DIYnista at 10:20 a.m.

Ring In Your Wedding!

Having trouble finding the perfect ring bearer pillow, or just looking to save a few bucks? Why not do it yourself? Follow these easy instructions to create a pillow that matches your personal wedding style!

The first thing you'll need to do is find a small pillow (it doesn't matter what color it is, you can always cover it up later!). Take a trip to your local craft store and buy fabric, ribbons (different colors and sizes), beads and flowers. Be creative, you can find a bunch of neat materials in craft stores. If you don't end up using them for the ring bearer pillow, you can always use them on your next project! Oh, and don't forget to make a trip to the dollar store-you never know what you may find!

If you need to cover your pillow, find a light-colored fabric (I used a silk pillowcase to cover mine!). Measure the fabric to fit the size of your pillow, cut and sew.

Before you get out your glue guns, be sure to experiment. Play around with different ribbons to see which colors you like best. I originally started making my pillow with only one solid pink ribbon. Although it looked okay, I decided to add a layer of sheer ribbon underneath and on top of the solid color. It gave it a totally different look! Also, be sure to experiment with the placement of beads, flowers, sequins or any other items you decide to use before you glue them on.

To make a ring bearer pillow just like the one above, follow the simple instructions below!

You will need:

• Pillow
• Solid color ribbon (1.5 inches in width or larger)
• Sheer ribbon (1.5 inches in width or larger)
• Small light colored ribbon (1/4 to ½ inch in width)
• Small round beads (various sizes)
• Flowers
• Scissors
• Glue Gun
• Needle & Thread

1. Lay the pieces of wide ribbon (one solid, and two pieces of the sheer) on top of each other on a flat surface. Place the pillow on top of the ribbon, off centered. Tie all three ribbons together in a knot in the front of the pillow. If the ends of the ribbons look too long, cut them with scissors diagonally.

2. Next, cut a piece of the small light-colored ribbon arm's length. Place a bead at both ends of the ribbon (I used round, medium-sized, clear beads). Tie a knot at the ends of the ribbon so the beads stay in place. Tie this ribbon at the center of the knot you made with the wider ribbons in step #1.

3. To add flowers, simply stick the stems into the center knot you made in step #1. Create a fuller look by placing the flowers in different directions.

4. Get out the glue gun and start gluing beads of different sizes onto the pillow. Make sure you use A LOT of glue so they do not fall off! Use a needle & thread to sew on the beads to make them more secure if you'd like. You could also replace the small round beads with other items, such as sequins or rhinestones, for the same kind of effect!

Posted by Desiree at 3:49 p.m.

Tea Light Party Favors

Last November I threw a birthday party for my friend at a club in New York City. I don't usually like to plan these types of parties because you can't put too much creativity into it. Despite the limited options, I wanted to give the guests a little something to go home with. Since the theme of her party was pink, I decided to create a pink party favor to go along with the pink drink the club provided for her guests. Everyone loved them, and they were actually useful after the party!

Directions:
1. Cut a rectangle-shaped piece of tulle.
2. Cut a 5-inch piece of ribbon.
3. Place your tea light candleholder in the center of the tulle. Then place your scented tea light into the candleholder.
4. Gather the ends of the tulle together and pull them straight up. Tie them tightly with the ribbon.
5. Add a favor tag with your monogram, event info or just tie a bow.

*Purchased from cudge.net.

Posted by DIYnista at 2:35 p.m.

My DIY Wedding

Hi Everyone! I'm back and married! It was so beautiful, and the weather was perfect. I wouldn't have changed a thing. I know you're anxious to see how my wedding projects turned out, so I've posted some pictures below.

The actual ceremony was on the beach, but the reception was in a large gazebo-shaped structure with hideous chairs, so I commissioned several family members to help me transport the chair covers and sashes to the Bahamas. The coordinator wanted to charge me $5 each! With 35 guests, you do the math. Of course, I went the more frugal route. I ordered my chair covers online and had them shipped to my place.

Instead of renting suits, all the men bought linen suits, including my husband. Wow, that feels so strange to say!

Here are more wedding pictures as well as some info about some of the things I used:

If you have any questions about anything else you see in the pictures, just leave me a comment and I'll post a reply. Happy DIYing!

Oh...just a tip for anyone who's honeymooning in Nassau, if you're going to be there for a couple of weeks, and you don't want to spend a ton of money, you should go to the Fish Fry for some great eats. Fish Fry is basically a strip of local, reasonably-priced seafood restaurants. You can take the #10 bus (Cable Beach) and it's only $1. Just ask the driver to let you know when you get to Fish Fry. There isn't a bell or anything, so you literally have to stand up and run to the front of the bus when you want to stop.

Posted by DIYnista at 11:08 a.m.

Tell Your Story

Hey there! My name's Desiree and I'm interning with the web department here at Bridal Guide. I love putting my creativity to use by working on hands-on projects, so I'm very excited to help out DIYnista and blog for all of you!

Your wedding is a day you'll never want to forget! Most of you will be hiring talented photographers to take gorgeous photos of you on your very special day. But where are you planning to store your photos later on? Here's a great way to make your wedding day last a lifetime.

Shutterfly is a company that hosts online photo showcasing. The site allows you to make your very own PhotoBook, which you can fill with pictures of your favorite memories. And the best part? It's fun, and SO easy (I signed up on the site and started a page just to see how the process worked. Now I'm addicted!).

Once you sign up, you can personalize your album by choosing different backgrounds, fonts and colors. When you're done choosing the basics, you can start adding and rearranging your photos. To make the process easier, it's a great idea to gather all the photos you'd like to use beforehand. That way, you can upload them all at the same time, and you won't be searching around for that one specific photo you may have missed.

Be creative with this project and give it your own personal touch! Shutterfly has a few photo editing tools that can help make your images look much more eye-catching. You can crop your photos to give them a more artistic look, or change some of your color images to Black and White or Sepia, for example.

If you need some inspiration, check out the Shutterfly Community page where other brides have posted their own unique PhotoBooks. Just click the Wedding tab, listed under Categories on the left-hand side of the Community page, and you can check out hundreds of featured PhotoBooks.

Here are some fun, inspiring and beautiful example pages from wedding albums that I selected from the Shutterfly Community page:

When you complete your PhotoBook, you too can share it with other brides by publishing it to the Community page. You can also purchase a printed version of your book, as shown below. It's a fabulous way to preserve your wedding-day memories forever!

In addition to its PhotoBooks, Shutterfly allows users to create their own save-the-date, announcement and thank-you greeting cards. Users can also personalize their own magnets, keychains, mugs, calendars, coasters and DVDs. Putting together a PhotoShow DVD is a great idea to add entertainment to your reception. You can select your own music, backgrounds, borders and special effects. To see an example of a PhotoShow DVD, click here.

Posted by Desiree at 3:35 p.m.

Got Gocco?

Exciting news! Bridal Guide and the real brides over at Weddingbee.com have teamed up to bring you their personal wedding planning stories. Today, Miss Tiramisu shares her DIY invitation project.

Hello! I was honored to be asked to guest blog over here at Bridal Guide, and I thought I'd share with you my biggest wedding project so far: the invitations!

My invitations were the first wedding DIY project I tackled. I had high hopes for them, but wasn't sure that I was up for making them myself. However, after a little searching, I couldn't find anything to purchase that was just perfect...and that meant I'd have to do it myself! Enter: GOCCO.

Gocco! Gocco? This word didn't enter my vocabulary until I became a bride-to-be. A Gocco, for those of you who don't know, is a magical little printing machine that can be used to create wedding invitations, stationery and tons of other paper projects. It can even be used to print on fabric and other surfaces, but I haven't gotten that adventurous yet! I purchased my machine on eBay after reading about all of the gorgeous wedding projects the bee bloggers over at weddingbee.com were making. I got the PG-5, which looks just like this:

It's super easy to use and is powered by your own two hands. You can print just about anything that you can design using your computer, draw using the special carbon pen, or photocopy.

With a little help from Mr. Tiramisu and Photoshop, I designed an invitation set using a swirl motif:

I did a few "warm-up" projects with my Gocco before tackling my invites-a set of stationery for my Mom, stationery for my shower hostesses, and a set for my best friend who is getting married herself this month. I highly recommend doing this to get used to the process. It's not hard, but there are some little tricks to it that are best discovered when you're not knee-deep in your expensive invitation paper!

Here are a few of my early trial runs:

Once my Gocco confidence was up, I was ready to start the invitations. The first step to the Gocco process is burning your screen. To do this, you need a printout or photocopy of your final design, a Gocco screen, the Gocco flash unit and two flash bulbs. I wish I could take a picture of the Gocco flash bulbs going off-it's blinding, but very exciting! All you do is attach the flash unit to the printing unit, close your eyes and press down! This process requires two batteries, located inside the Gocco unit. Once you flash the screen, you discard the bulbs (which are single-use only) and are left with your design now burned onto a screen. The burning process basically creates tiny holes in the screen where your ink will flow through.

The next step is to ink your screen. Here's what my invitation screen looked like all inked up with Gocco gold ink:

This screen gets inserted back into the holder in the Gocco print unit, and you are ready to print. This is the fun (and muscle-building) part! Simply press down on the unit, and a print is made.

Here's the outcome of my gold invite printing:

I used a total of 10 screens (and messed up on an extra 3 screens!) to make my wedding invitations, the 3 enclosures, the outside and RSVP envelopes, and the card that held them all together. With the cost of the paper (ordered from paper-source), Gocco supplies (but not the machine itself, since I'm using it for lots of other things!), the ribbon, envelope-lining paper, and the special paper clips we used to hold the enclosures together, the invitations ended up costing $2.79 each.

Here's the finished product!

We'll be sending these out in two weeks! Are you DIY-ing your invitations? Any fellow Gocco'ers out there? They were pretty time consuming, but I had so much fun making these!

Posted by Miss Tiramisu at 10:02 a.m.

Honeymoon Break

I'm a married woman now!

I just wanted to drop you a quick note to tell you and apologize for not updating these past few weeks. I was busy getting ready for the wedding. It was a lot of hard work, but well worth it. Everything came out just as I imagined it. I'll post some pictures as soon as I get the chance, but right now I'm off to enjoy my honeymoon!

While I'm away, Lori from the "Here Comes the Wedding" blog is going to post one or two projects she's been experimenting with for her friend's bridal shower. She's looking for ideas, so if you have any, share them here.

See you when I get back!

Posted by DIYnista at 11:58 a.m.

Charger Plates

Papyrus has gorgeous printed paper that can be used for more than just wrapping.You can create simple artwork by cutting out squares and placing them in frames, or centerpieces by placing paper squares over pasted styrofoam cubes. You can also use the paper as a beautiful accent for an elegant dinner party! (On the cheap of course.) Chargers add a touch of class and often pull together the average table setting. They are also about $20 for four-and that's the cheaper end of the spectrum. Here's how to make your own chargers:

1. Cut 4 or more 10" x 10" squares of cardboard. (These are your chargers believe it or not.)
2. If you aren't really that skilled with cutting cardboard evenly, you can purchase plain double-face corrugated sheets. They are about 15 cents each at any craft store, or you can find them online here.
3. Wrap your first sheet of cardboard as if you're wrapping a present. Once you have just enough paper to wrap the cardboard, unwrap and measure the paper.
4. Use the same dimensions for all the sheets of paper. One of my favorite prints is Butterflies On Red. This contrasts well with chocolate-colored plates. (Mypapershop.com has great paper plates in a variety of colors and free shipping.)
5. Once you've wrapped the cardboard successfully, cover it in plastic wrap. Pull tightly so there are no bumps or ridges and seal. You can also use cellophane and tape to cover your chargers.
6. Turn the wrapped cardboard over and you should see a smooth, colorful charger that's now ready for very fancy paper plates or your own pretty plates!!

Posted by DIYnista at 4:16 p.m.

Budget Gourmet

California Pizza Kitchen actually sells frozen pizza. The shocker is that it's actually as good as the pizza in the restaurant. The chicken and garlic pizza is my favorite, so buy that one. I know what you're thinking, 'What's do-it-yourself about buying a frozen pizza?' Bear with me for a minute here. Before you pop it in the oven, drizzle a couple of diced pineapples on there, add some diced ham, and there you have it! Luau for everyone. Your own Hawaiian Chicken Garlic pizza sensation. (Leis sold separately.)

Posted by DIYnista at 1:05 p.m.

HomeGoods

Going to this place is the ultimate adrenaline rush for me. If I could live here, I would. They have the most beautiful furniture, mirrors, glass art and housewares. The list is really too long for one blog entry. I bought my fabulous pink Christmas tree here, as well as my metallic gold cake plates and 2-foot mirrored centerpieces. Even if you're not the most artistic person, you'll be inspired in this store.

Posted by DIYnista at 9:46 a.m.

Everyday Table Centerpieces

Carnations and poms are some of my favorite everyday flowers. One of the best things about carnations is you can easily dye them any color to match your color scheme. Here, simple instructions:

1. Purchase several white carnations from your local floral outlet.
2. To make your dye solution, add one ounce of food coloring to one pint of warm water. Then add one teaspoon of sugar. Place the dye solution in a clear glass vase.
3. Immerse the fresh cut flower stems in about three inches of dye solution.
4. Remove the flowers from the dye solution when the desired color is achieved. This could take anywhere from one to 24 hours.
5. Wash the stem ends under running water and cut the stems again before you use them in a floral arrangement.

Once your carnations are cut, place them in colorful glass tumblers. I really like the Graphic Garden Tumblers from Pottery Barn.

Target also has some very nice tumblers. Experiment with the colors, and even go for bold prints. It will really liven up your space. Place the flowers in the tumblers in any room in your house or use them as cute centerpieces for a bridal shower.

Posted by DIYnista at 10:05 a.m.

One-Stop Shop

There are so many reasons why I love cudge.net. They have wedding supplies, favors, candles-just about everything you need for a successful event. Plus, the prices are awesome! It's also very convenient for a New Yorker like myself. If you can pick up your purchase at their office at 116 W. 23rd St., you get a refund on your shipping. Finally, there's a way to get around that icky notice that forces you to go to the post office early on a Saturday morning.

Posted by DIYnista at 10:58 a.m.

Sweet Treat

One of my favorite desserts is the Caramel Apple Cheesecake Tart, which I found on the Keebler Ready Crust website. I love this recipe! It's perfect for a bridal shower or a special dinner with your fiance. They'll think you slaved all day on this adorable little treat. The only thing I added was a little sprinkle of cinnamon on top of the tarts. I like to serve them with Breyers vanilla bean ice cream and chocolate shavings. Tip: Use a vegetable peeler on a block of semisweet chocolate to make the shavings.

Posted by DIYnista at 12:27 p.m.

Alaskan Fizzenberry Drink Station

Who says you need an actual bar to create a bar area? I don't even own a real dining room table, so of course I didn't splurge for a bar! I do have a card table and four tray tables. Amazingly enough, the tables are all the same height, and when covered, they look like a bar. If you are fortunate enough to have the same items at home, all you need is a corner, some extra hands and patience.

Materials:
15-20 paper drink umbrellas
Thread or ribbon
Tape
Card table
Tray table
Cheesy island tablecloth (optional)

Directions:
1. If you're using thread, tie a knot around the base of the umbrella. The umbrella should be upside down. If you're using ribbon, tie a knot around the base then wrap the ribbon around the pole of the umbrella. Once you reach the end, poke a hole into the ribbon with the end of the umbrella to keep the ribbon in place.
2. Apply tape to the opposite end of the thread/ribbon.
3. Adhere the taped end to the ceiling.
4. Repeat with varying lengths of thread/ribbon to create a staggered look in the area above your 'bar.'
5. Set up your card table directly under your 'raining umbrellas.'
6. Place one tray table length-wise next to your card table. Place the other tray table one behind the other in a line, so that they create an L shape with the card table.
7. Cover the tables with a tablecloth.

Posted by DIYnista at 12:01 p.m.

Alaskan Fizzenberry

One of my good friends is getting married next, and is moving back to her hometown-in Alaska! I'm throwing her a bridal shower, and I wanted to come up with a cool summer drink, with a hint of Alaska. I know it's February, but bear with me. I call it the Alaskan Fizzenberry. Personally, I love it! I think you will, too.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz. of vanilla Stolichnaya
2 parts ginger ale (or less if you're a party girl!)
4 fresh strawberries
3 slices of canned peaches
Simple syrup (here's an easy recipe)
Cool Jewels Ice Tray or other shaped ice tray
Blender

Directions:

1. Mix strawberries, peaches and simple syrup in the blender.
2. Pour mixture into ice tray and freeze overnight.
3. Pour vanilla Stolichnaya into your glass.
4. Drop in frozen strawberry/peach jewels.
5. Add ginger ale and enjoy!

Posted by DIYnista at 10:39 a.m.

Dramatic Lighting on the Cheap!

Last year I had a matchmaking party at my apartment. I really wanted to hang paper lanterns all over to give the space a romantic feel. The problem with paper lanterns is that they all require individual electric sockets. Being that I am very frugal, I decided to achieve the same effect in a different way. I used white holiday lights to keep the lanterns lit, and the end result was gorgeous.

Materials:
1/16-inch fabric cord
3 paper lanterns (pealriver.com)
2 strings of 100 party lights (cudge.net)
Twisty ties
Clear packing tape

Note: The number of lanterns and lights will depend on the size of your room and the amount of lighting you need.

Directions:
1. Measure the length between the two walls you'll be using to hang your lanterns. (Make sure there's an outlet close by.) Add about six inches on each side to your measurement.

2. Using your measurement, cut the amount of fabric cord needed.

3. If your ceiling is similar to mine, attach the cord at each end to pipes in the ceiling. If you have a standard ceiling, screw cup hooks into the ceiling where it meets the wall. Make sure the hooks are secure, as you will put a considerable amount of weight on them.

4. Tie the cord securely around the cup hooks at each end.

5. Hang your paper lanterns along the cord.

6. String the lights around the cord loosely.

7. When you reach a paper lantern, make a loop with the lights. Fasten the open end of the loop with a twisty tie (used for closing garbage bags), and drop the loop inside the lantern. Continue until you reach the opposite wall.

8. Using clear packing tape, tape the excess lights down the wall, and plug in.

Posted by DIYnista at 1:01 p.m.

At-Home Reception Favors

Last year, I threw what I thought was going to be a big party-but only 10 of my 25 guests showed. As a result, I had a ton of these plastic snap-together party cups shaped like mini-wine glasses. I decided to use them to make candle favors for all of my guests.

Here's the end result:

Here's how I did it:

Materials:

Plastic snap-together wine glasses (Party City)
Sheer ribbon (Michaels)
Crazy Glue (or any clear-drying fabric glue)
Scented votive candles (cudge.net)

Directions:

1. Assemble wine glasses.
2. Cut 6-inch long strips of sheer ribbon.
3. Glue one end of the ribbon to the stem of the glass.
4. Hold until the ribbon adheres. (Use a pen tip to keep your fingers from getting stuck.)
5. Wrap ribbon tightly up the stem at an angle.
6. Glue the remaining end to the stem.
7. Place candle in wine glass.

Posted by DIYnista at 1:23 p.m.

Wedding Programs

Confession time! I am becoming a little obsessed with my wedding colors. So, when I was rummaging through the clearance section at Kate's Paperie, I found this gorgeous opaque tangerine cardstock. I enlisted the help of one of my old co-workers to help with the printing, and I popped on our signature wedding "logo." CAN YOU REALLY POP ON A LOGO?? We found a clip art image and cut and paste it onto the front page of the programs. It's just a palm tree, but to me it represents future wedded bliss and even a fun wedding in the sun! I digress, so here is the end result, and here is how I did it:

Materials:

Opaque cardstock (almost feels like plastic)
Plain white cardstock
Sheer ribbon (same ribbon I have been using throughout all of my DIY projects)

Directions:

1. Set up a Word document with two 5-inch wide text boxes, so your text will be evenly spaced on opposite sides of the page.
2. Print your chosen text on opaque cardstock. This will be your front and back cover.
3. Print your chosen text on your plain cardstock, these are your inside pages.
4. Fold both sheets down the center (in half, widthwise).
5. Open the program to the middle page and place the sheer ribbon in the center. Close the program then tie the ribbon into a bow or a simple knot, depending on the amount of ribbon you have.
6. Tie a bow, or a simple knot, depending upon the amount of ribbon you have.

Posted by DIYnista at 12:13 p.m.

Bridesmaid Bouquets

My wedding colors are tangerine and magenta. That being said, my flowers need to be a very brilliant color-over-the-top. (Well, maybe not over-the-top, but I just prefer things over-the-top.) All of the pictures my coordinator emailed me were of peach and reddish-pink flowers-which are not the colors I want (and they are WAY too expensive!) I can't bring any flowers or food into the country because of customs, so I am using silk flowers to make my own bouquets. Here is a picture of the end result:

Materials:
Silk Flowers
Wire Cutters
1.5-inch-2-inch satin ribbon with wire edges
Plastic Bouquet Holder
Wire
Sheer Ribbon
Scissors

Directions:
1. Choose your flowers from any craft store, or dollar store (you would be surprised what they have at the dollar store!)
2. Once you have chosen your flowers, gather them tightly, and put the stems through the bouquet holder. (Bend or cut any stems that are too long-just know bending stems will make your bouquet handle wider.)
3. Bind the stems together tightly with wire.
4. Place the bottom of the stems on the ribbon, and wrap around once so the base of the stems are covered.
5. Begin to angle the ribbon upward and wrap tightly until you reach the base of the bouquet holder.
6. Tuck the remaining piece of ribbon into the stems.
7. Tie a coordinating piece of sheer ribbon into a bow around the middle of the stems.

Posted by DIYnista at 10:35 a.m.

Wedding Invitations

I want my wedding invites to be personal and I think handmade invites add that perfect personal touch. So, in my research, I found this awesome paper website (remoteassistance.com) for several different types of invitations. I purchased the tangerine envelopments, magenta square cardstock for the inserts, and vellum paper with our names, wedding date and our wedding logo. Then I printed it, assembled it and put it all together with a nice little bow. Sounds easy enough, right?

Posted by DIYnista at 10:40 a.m.

Wedding Reception Centerpieces

Because I'm having a destination wedding, I know that all my cousins (and there's 32 of them. just on my mom's side!) and friends may not be able to make it. So I'm having an at-home reception. Well. it's really a salon reception, I guess. There is an ultra fabulous salon on my street with exposed brick, paper lanterns and plenty of space! Being a salon, there are so many mirrors, and I wanted to create something that would play off of them. Here's a picture of the centerpieces I created:

Here's how you can make them:

Materials:
2 hurricane glasses (or almost hurricane glasses)
Faux River Rocks
Silk Flowers (Tall silk flowers, preferably thin, so they don't look too crowded in the glass.)
Industrial strength glue or epoxy (make sure it works on glass)
A steady hand

Directions:
1. Clean glasses thoroughly. (I bought mine from the dollar store so they were a little dusty.)
2. Place about 10 river rocks in one of the glasses. (You may want to use more if your glass has a wide base.)
3. Bend silk flowers at a 45-degree angle so the flower rests against the inside of the glass.
4. Use two contrasting flower colors for the best effect (Think dark purple and pale yellow. or of course whatever your wedding colors are!)
5. Gently place one hurricane glass on top of the other, and glue the rims of the glass together (60-second epoxy will hold quickly, but if you use too much it may get gooey.)
6. Hold for about 30 seconds until dry.

Posted by DIYnista at 1:13 p.m.